In Week 5, New York Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit that knocked out Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion. Concepcion was face down and motionless on the ground for several moments before he eventually left the field for further evaluation. He entered the NFL's concussion protocol following the scary hit, and now the NFL has determined further punishment for Fitzpatrick.
The NFL updated its accountability report with Week 5 fines on Saturday, Oct. 17, revealing that Fitzpatrick received a $17,911 fine under unnecessary roughness for a hit on a defenseless player. In addition, Fitzpatrick was hit with an $11,941 fine for his facemask call in the first quarter, which also occurred while he was defending against Concepcion. His total of nearly $30,000 in fines was the most received by a player in Week 5, surpassing Maxx Crosby's single-incident fine of $23,882.
More news: Ex-NFL Star Draws Major Backlash for Controversial Jalen Hurts Take The New York Jets ultimately won the game 17-12. Fitzpatrick finished with five tackles, four of which were solo tackles during the game. His hit on Concepcion drew backlash from some as a dirty play that could've seriously hurt the rookie.
On Friday, Concepcion gave a clear response about Fitzpatrick's hit, indicating that despite what happened to him being "scary," he didn't consider it dirty. I know the game I signed up to play," the former Texas A&M standout said, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. So far this season, the Browns' No. 24 pick has 18 receptions for 149 yards and no touchdowns.
Fitzpatrick has 21 total tackles, including 12 solo tackles, and an interception in his first season with the Jets. According to NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, Fitzpatrick previously said he planned to appeal the fine for what he called a "football play," which also received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness in the game. The good news for the Browns is that Concepcion cleared concussion protocol.
He was limited in practices earlier this week before returning Friday and becoming available for the team's Sunday game against the Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland is 3-2 heading into the game against the 4-1 division leaders, who will be without Lamar Jackson in the Week 6 clash. Whether or not that helps the Browns seize a win in Baltimore is another question, as the Ravens rank among the top five NFL teams for total offensive yards per game.
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